Granadilla Residents Protest Council Plans for New Beach Bars in El Médano

Tensions are rising in Granadilla de Abona after the local council announced plans to open two new beach bars at El Cabezo and La Jaquita. Local residents, represented by the Barquera Neighborhood Platform of El Médano, have formally rejected the proposal, joining environmental groups like Salvar La Tejita in their opposition.

The dispute goes beyond just the construction of new hospitality venues; it highlights a broader debate over how the coastline should be managed. Residents argue that the project violates the Coastal Law, which limits building on the shoreline to activities that cannot be located anywhere else. They point out that El Médano already has plenty of restaurants and cafes, meaning these new businesses are driven by commercial interest rather than public need—a stance supported by previous rulings from the National High Court and the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands.

The project also faces significant environmental concerns. Critics warn that the development could harm the Natura 2000 protected network and note that mandatory environmental impact studies are missing. Residents are particularly frustrated by the contradiction in the council’s actions: in 2023, the government ordered the council to demolish a parking lot at El Cabezo to restore the natural landscape, yet the council now intends to build on that same land.

For the local community, this proposal is a sign that the area is being pushed beyond its limits. Residents describe a town struggling with overdevelopment, strained public services, a surge in vacation rentals, and frequent sewage spills. They argue that privatizing public beach space for new businesses will only add more pressure to an already exhausted environment and community.